The document describes Experiment #1 on a class A power amplifier. Key points: 1. The operating point (Q-point) of the amplifier was initially not centered on the AC load line, causing distortion. Adjusting the emitter resistor centered the Q-point. 2. With the centered Q-point, the maximum undistorted output voltage increased. The expected and measured output voltages matched closely. 3. A class A amplifier has low efficiency due to conduction over the full input cycle, but provides an undistorted output waveform.

1. NATIONAL COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Amafel Bldg. Aguinaldo Highway Dasmariñas City, Cavite
EXPERIMENT # 1
CLASS A POWER AMPLIFIER
Abdon, John Kerwin October 11, 2011
Signal Spectra and Signal Processing/ BSECE 41A1 Score:
Engr. Grace Ramones
Instructor

2. Sample Computation:
Step 4
VCE=VCEQ + (ICQ)(RC + Re)= 10.273 V + 48.48mA(50Ω+5 Ω)= 12.9394V
Step 6
Step 7
Step 8 VCEQ =VCC - ICQ(RE + Re + RC)
VCC - ICQ(RE + Re + RC)= (ICQ)(Rc + Re)
VCC (RE + Re + RC)= ( )(Rc + Re)
Step 10
VCEQ =20V - ( +5 + )=5.37V
VCE=VCEQ + (ICQ)(RC + Re)= 5.37V + (50Ω+5 Ω)= 10.73525V
Step 12
Step 13
Step 14

3. Objectives:
1. Determine the dc load line and locate the operating point (Q-point) on the dc load line
for a large-signal class A common-emitter amplifier.
2. Determine the ac load line for a large-signal class A common-emitter amplifier.
3. Center the operating point (Q-point on the ac load for a large-signal class A common-
emitter amplifier.
4. Determine the maximum ac peak-to-peak output voltage swing before peak clipping
occurs and compare the measured value with the expected value for a large-signal class
A common-emitter amplifier.
5. Observe nonlinear distortion of the output waveshape for a large-signal class A
common-emitter amplifier.
6. Measure the large-signal voltage gain of a class A common-emitter amplifier and
compare the measured and calculated values.
7. Measure the maximum undistorted output power for a class A amplifier.
8. Determine the amplifier efficiency of a class A amplifier.

4. Datasheet:
Materials:
One digital multimeter
One function generator
One dual-trace oscilloscope
One dc powers supply
One 2N3904 bipolar transistor
Capacitors: two 10 µF, one 470 µF
Resistors: one 5 Ω, one 95 Ω, two 100 Ω, one 1 kΩ, one 2.4 kΩ
Theory:
A power amplifier is a large-signal amplifier in the final stage of a communication transmitter
that provides power to the antenna or in the final stage of a receiver that drives the speaker.
When an amplifier is biased so that it operates in the linear region of the transistor collector
characteristic curve for the full 360 degrees of the input sine wave cycle, it is classified as a
class A amplifier. This means that collector current flows during the full sine wave cycle, making
class A amplifiers the least efficient of the different classes of large-signal amplifiers. In a large-
signal amplifier, the input signal causes the operating point (Q-point) to move over much a
larger portion of the ac load line than in a small-signal amplifier. Therefore, large signal class A
amplifiers require the operating point to be as close as possible to the center of the ac load line
to avoid clopping of the output waveform. In a class A amplifier, the output voltage waveform
has the same shape as the input voltage waveform, making it the most linear of the different
classes of amplifiers. Most small-signal amplifiers, it is normally used in a low-power application
that requires a linear amplifier such as an audio power amplifier or as a power amplifier in a
low-power transmitter with low-level AM or SSB modulation. In this experiment you will study a
large-signal class A amplifier.
For the large –signal class A common-emitter amplifier shown in Figures 14-1 and 14-2, the dc
collector-emitter voltage (VCE) can be calculated from
VCE = VC – VE
The dc collector current (IC) can be determined by calculating the current in the collector
resistor (RC). Therefore,

5. Figure 14–1 Large signal Class A Amplifier, DC Analysis
XMM1
R1 Rc V1
2.4kΩ 100Ω 20 V
Q1
2N3904
R2
1kΩ Re
5Ω
REm
95Ω
Figure 14-2 Large-Signal Class A Amplifier
The ac collector resistance (RC) is equal to the parallel equivalent of the collector resistor (RC)
and the load resistor (RL). Therefore,
The ac load line has a slope of 1/(RC + RL) and crosses the dc load line Q-point. The ac load line
crosses the horizontal axis of the transistor collector characteristic curve plot at VCE equal to
VCEQ + (ICQ)(RC + Re), where VcEQ is the collector-emitter voltage at the Q-point and ICQ is the
collector current at the Q-point.
The amplifier voltage gain is measured by dividing the ac peak-to-peak output voltage (VO) by
the ac peak-to-peak input voltage (Vin). The expected amplifier voltage gain for a common
emitter amplifier is calculated from

6. where RC is the collector resistance, re 25 mV/IE(mA), and the Re is the unbypassed emitter
resistance.
In order to center the Q-point on the ac load line, you must try different values of RE until VCEQ
is equal to (ICQ)(Rc + Re), where ICQ IEQ = VE//(RE + Re), VCC - ICQ(RE + Re + RC), Rc is equal to
the ac collector resistance, and RC is equal to the dc collector resistance.
The amplifier output power (PO) is calculated as follows:
The percent efficiency (ŋ) of a large-signal amplifier is equal to the maximum output power (PO)
divided by the power supplied by the source (PS) times 100%. Therefore,
where Ps = (VCC)(IS). The current at the source (IS) is determined from
IS = I12 + ICQ
where I12 = VCC/(R1 + R2). Note: I12 is the current in resistors R1 and R2, neglecting the base
current.
Procedure:
Step 1 Open circuit file FIG 14–1. Bring down the multimeter enlargement and make
sure that V and dc ( ) are selected. Run the simulation and record the dc
base voltage (VB). Move the multimeter positive lead to node VE. Run the
simulation and record the dc emitter voltage (VE). Move the multimeter positive
lead to node VC. Run the simulation and record the dc collector voltage (VC).
VB = 5.658V VE = 4.879V VC = 15.152V
Step 2 Based on the voltages in Step 1, calculate the dc collector-emitter voltage (VCE)
and the dc collector current (IC).
IC = 48.48mA VCE=10.273 V
Step 3 Draw the dc load line on the graph provided. Based on the calculations in Step 2,
locate the operating point (Q-point) on the dc load line.

7. IC(sat)
200
150
100
50
0 5 10 15 20 VCE(V)
Step 4 Open circuit file FIG14-2. Bring down the function generator enlargement and
make sure that the following settings are selected. Sine wave , Freq = 2 kHz,
Ampl = 250 mV, Offset = 0 v. Bring down the oscilloscope enlargement and
make sure that the following settings are selected: Time base (Scale = 100
µa/Div, Xpos = 0 Y/T), Ch A (Scale = 200 mV/Div, Ypos = 0, AC), Ch B (Scale =
2 V/Div, Ypos = 0, AC), Trigger (Pos edge, Level = 0, Auto).Based on the value
of RC and RL, calculate the ac collector resistance (RC), and then draw the ac load
line through the Q-point on the graph in Step 3.
VCE= 12.9394V
Questions: Is the operating point (Q-point) in the center of the dc load line? Is it in the center
of the ac load line?
it is not located at the center of the dc load line also not in the center of the ac
load line.
Why is it necessary for the Q-point to be in the center of the ac load line for large signal inputs?
To avoid clippings of the output.
Step 5 Run the simulation. Keep increasing the input signal voltage on the function
generator until the output peak distortion begins to occur. Then reduce the input
signal level slightly until there is no longer any output peak distortion. Pause the
analysis and record the maximum undistorted ac peak-to-peak output voltage
(VC) and the ac peak-to-peak input voltage (Vin)
Vin = 303.852 mV Vo = 2.298V

8. Step 6 Based on the voltages measured in Step 5, determine the voltage gain (AV) of
the amplifier.
Step 7 Calculate the expected voltage gain (AV) based on the value of the ac collector
resistance (Rc), the unbypassed emitter resistance (Re), and the ac emitter
resistance (re), where re = 25 mV / IE (mA)
Questions: How did the measured amplifier voltage gain with the calculated voltage gain?
The difference is 22.49% .
What effect does unbypassed emitter resistance have on the amplifier voltage gain? What effect
does it have on the voltage gain stability?
The voltage gain is inversely proportional to the unbypassed emitter resistance
When the unbypassed emitter resistance become higher and higher the voltage
of an amplifier become smaller and smaller.
Step 8 Calculate the value RE required to center the Q-point on the ac load line. Hint:
Try different values of Re until VCEQ = (ICQ)(Rc + Re) at the new Q-point. See
Theory section for details.
Question: Did you need to increase RE to center the Q-point on the ac load line? Explain why.
RE needed to decrease. This is to center the Q-point
Step 9 Change RE to the value calculated in Step 8 and repeat the procedure in Step 5.
Record the maximum undistorted ac peak-to-peak output voltage (Vo) and the ac
peak-to-peak input voltage (Vin) for this centered Q-point.
Vin = 547.839 mV Vo = 4.311 V
Question: How did the maximum undistorted peak-to-peak output voltage measured in Step 9,
for the centered Q-point, compare with the maximum undistorted peak-to-peak
output voltage measured in Step 5, for the original Q-point that was not
centered?
It is higher
Step 10 Calculate the new dc values for ICEQ for the new value of RE Locate the new dc
load line and the new Q-point on the graph in Step 3. Draw the new ac load line
through the new Q-point.
VCEQ =5.37V
VCE=)= 10.73525V
Questions: What effect did the new Q-point have on the location of the new ac load line?
The location of the ac load line changes.

9. What was the location of the new Q-point on the new load line?
The Q-point is now located at the center of the ac load line.
Step 11 Based on the new centered Q-point and the ac load line, estimate what
maximum ac peak-to-peak output voltage (VO) should be before output clipping
occurs.
Vo = 4.31 V
Question: How did the maximum undistorted peak-to-peak output voltage measured in Step 9
for the centered Q-point, compared with the expected maximum estimated in
Step 11?
It is twice.
Step 12 Based on the maximum undistorted ac-peak-to-peak output voltage (Vo)
measured in Step 9, calculate the maximum undistorted output power (PO) to the
load (RL).
Step 13 Based on the supply voltage (VCC), the new collector current at the new
operating point (ICQ), and the bias resistor current (I12), calculate the power
supplied by the dc voltage source (PS).
Step 14 Based on the power supplied by the dc voltage source (PS) and the maximum
undistorted output power (PO) calculated in Step 12, calculate the percent
efficiency (ŋ) of the amplifier.
Question: is the efficiency of a class A amplifier high or low? Explain why.
The efficiency is low due to conduction at full sine wave.

10. Conclusion:
Class A amplifier conducts at full sine wave that is why the power
efficiency is low. Also, the quiescent of the dc load line is located in the intersection of
dc collector-emitter voltage and the collectors current. There are times that the
quiescent point is not located at the center of the ac load line that causes distortion or
clippings in the output wave. The output voltage of the class A power amplifier is much
higher than the input voltage causing a high voltage gain.